Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Today the 19th
of November Monaco shuts down and celebrates its monarchy and national day. I
get to enjoy an extra paid day off and of course as sods law will have it, it’s
pishing doon with rain.(As we say in Scotland) Down by the port in Monaco there
has been a fair with all sorts of brightly lit attractions to entertain
children of all ages and all over town red and white flags have gone up. Shops
have decorated their windows with roses and little flags and Place du casino is
a sea of red and white.

I do believe that this
colourful out pouring of patriotism is genuine; Monegasques have a lot to be grateful
for. This tiny principality of 2.02² Kilometres has seen a huge improvement in
its economic fortunes in the last century. In a short time it has gone from
tiny place stuck between the rocks and the sea without any natural resources to
the planet money it is today.

The Royal family is
loved here and they’ve had a huge influence in making Monaco what it is today;
from building the casino in the late 19th century to attracting
major financial institutions. Some people might say that only a few families
have an awfully big say in what goes on in planet money, but today you will
hear no criticism. Being such a tiny place it is inevitable you bump into a
royal at some point and even I in my short period working here have met one of
Albert’s nephews. So the relationship the Monegasques have with their monarch
is often a personal one. I’m sure despite the rain Monegasques will turn out in
force to cheer on Albert&co.